Abstract

Neurohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques have been used to determine the autonomic innervation of smooth muscle in the normal human male and female bladder neck and proximal urethra. Numerous cholinergic nerves supply the bladder neck and female proximal urethra, although nerves of the noradrenergic type rarely are observed in these regions. In contrast the male proximal urethra is supplied richly with noradrenergic nerves, indicating that the region is under direct sympathetic control and functions to prevent vesical reflux of ejaculate. The sympathetic innervation of the human bladder neck and female proximal urethra is different from that in other species, a finding that emphasizes the need for caution when results obtained from experimental animals are applied to the human. The sex difference is the innervation of the human proximal urethra has been discussed, particularly in relation to autonomic blocking agents currently used in the treatment of bladder neck and urethral dysfunction.

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This record was last updated on 07/26/2018 and may not reflect the most current and accurate biomedical/scientific data available from NLM.
The corresponding record at NLM can be accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/894809